The majority of exploration of the Middle Fork by boat began in the 1930’s. The first attempt from Marsh Creek was in 1926 by Henry Weidner, who decided to make a motion picture in the Idaho backcountry. His party set out with hundreds of pounds of gear in canoes. They did make is down the river into the main Salmon and on to the town Riggins, but along the way they lost a great deal of their gear and equipment.  The trip took them over three months. After the film was shown more people began to become interested in boating the Middle Fork. Everyone was floating in wooden boats with a cockpit to sit in, center mount oars and compartments in the front and back for storage. They had to line them through the major rapids.

The first rubber raft completed the journey in 1939 rowed by Amos Burg. This new type of boat was able to run most of the rapids successfully. After WWII there was another rush onto the Middle Fork, and Ruth Hindman opened the door as the first woman to row the Middle Fork. This also marked the era when people began to pay boatmen as guides to take them down such an incredible river.

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Geology | Wildlife | Plant Life

Native People | Early Settlers & Homesteads | Boating History